Offense - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Well-defined fingers squeezed the mineral water bottle, making a soft crinkling sound.

Her phone was silent, so Lian Wan was able to steal a moment of leisure and linger at home a little longer. While brushing her teeth, her mouth full of foam, she glanced again at the nearby balcony.

This time, she finally recognized the new pot of flowers. It must have been from the town's morning market—a small pot of light purple blossoms with slender stems that swayed gently. Something you could buy for five yuan.

The flower seller was an outsider. Pingchuan Town had no flower shops, so novelties like ornamental goldfish, small potted plants, and dyed chicks were all brought in by outsiders who also drove large trucks. They were sold on the roadside, displayed alongside the eggplants, potatoes, and green peppers of the morning market.

She went to the morning market, Lian Wan thought.

But her mind conjured the scene of the woman feeding the dog in the alley that morning.

Then came other images: the way the woman looked when she spoke to her, how she carefully tucked back a falling strand of hair while eating tofu pudding, her joy when buying the lottery ticket, the softness of her palm as it gripped her wrist yesterday afternoon… When she snapped out of it, the faucet was still running. It was as if she'd been daydreaming, and she had just wasted several minutes of water.

Lian Wan wasn't a superstitious person, but in that moment, she suddenly felt that the dog being lost was a very bad sign.

She rinsed the foam from her mouth and scrubbed her face hard.

For the next few days, everyone in the Vehicle Team knew that Xiao Lian was looking for a stray dog. But the strays of Pingchuan Town rarely came out during the day and were impossible to see at night. Amid her disappointment, whenever Lian Wan had a free moment, her thoughts would drift to Zhou Yanqian. She would picture her at the mouth of the alley, half-squatting, her skirt unable to cover her smooth thighs. Upon seeing her, the woman's long, curly hair would fall across her bare shoulders, and her glistening eyes would gaze up gracefully before she stood up straight-

Lian Wan knew the woman was half a head shorter than her. In that moment, if she had just leaned down, she could have kissed her forehead.

"Hey, driver, that should be everything. Come check the order form, see if it's right."

The factory workers had finished loading the goods, stacking them neatly, and were now waiting to the side, shaking out their hands. Lian Wan suppressed the disorderly, romantic thoughts in her mind, jumped down from the driver's seat, and went to the cargo bay to count the cases of mineral water, instant noodles, and snacks.

The cargo bay was a little dirty. She scuffed at the floor with her foot.

"Looks fine."

"If there's no problem, I'll sign off on it then."

"Okay." Lian Wan took the signed delivery order, pulled open the truck door, and climbed in.

This delivery route had previously been handled by someone else from the Vehicle Team, so Lian Wan wasn't familiar with the workers here. The factory gate was a bit narrow, so she rolled down her window and listened to a worker guide her as she backed out.

"A little more back?"

Lian Wan glanced up, estimating the distance. "No need."

She cranked the steering wheel hard, then slowly adjusted the angle, backing out smoothly.

A few workers watching from the side chimed in like a supportive chorus, chattering to get friendly with the driver in the seat. "That's some real skill, getting out of a space like that."

"I'm off," Lian Wan said, playing along with a polite smile and a nod.

Her only delivery for the day was to Zhou Yanqian. She had even left early that morning, so she would be able to deliver the goods before noon.

The Saturday traffic was heavy, and Lian Wan, feeling unusually impatient, honked her horn a few times.

She was still late. By the time she arrived, the residential complex was already filled with the aroma of cooking. Someone must have been making dumplings; the smell of steamed chives hit her as soon as she drove in.

The woman had called her beforehand and was already waiting outside the store, standing under the bright sun, seemingly lost in thought.

The light blue box truck backed up and came to a sharp halt as the handbrake was pulled. The driver immediately jumped down, her voice uncharacteristically rushed. "How long have you been waiting? Why weren't you waiting inside the store?"

Zhou Yanqian only answered her second question. "I got bored sitting, so I came out to stand for a bit."

The woman was wearing another tight, spaghetti-strap maxi dress, revealing her fair, slender calves. Her face was flushed from the sun, and a bead of sweat trickled from her smooth shoulder into the hollow of her collarbone. Lian Wan felt a sympathetic itch on her own neck and didn't dare to look any longer. She turned her back to open the cargo doors, asking, "Where's the storeroom?"

"It's inside the store." Zhou Yanqian, seemingly oblivious to her evasiveness, moved closer to offer help. "Let me help you. It's too tiring to move all this alone."

Lian Wan climbed into the cargo bay on her own, her voice muffled. "You don't have to. Just give me the hand truck."

The glass door was propped wide open, letting the cool air escape. At high noon, the streets of the complex were empty, leaving only the monotonous rumble of the hand truck's wheels.

Lian Wan was silent as she unloaded the cargo. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, as if she were holding her breath, as she pushed the fully loaded hand truck into the storeroom trip after trip.

Zhou Yanqian stood to the side and watched. Seeing Lian Wan's unapproachable demeanor and fearing she would only get in the way, she didn't dare try to help.

Even with the store's air conditioning blasting, the constant shift between the heat outside and the cool inside made Lian Wan sweat profusely. Her bangs were soaked, and she slicked them back, revealing her clear face.

The midday sun hung high overhead. The clatter of pots and pans and the rampant smell of cooking that had filled the complex for a while began to fade into silence.

Time trickled away, second by second, yet also seemed to stretch on.

Finally, the last load was moved, and the truck was empty. Lian Wan then helped Zhou Yanqian check the stock in the storeroom and straightened a few crooked shelves before coming out to say goodbye.

"All done. It's getting late, you should go have lunch."

A moment later, she turned back from the door. "Could I borrow a broom? I'm going to sweep out the truck."

Her voice was soft again, as if she were afraid of startling her.

Zhou Yanqian went to the back room to get her a broom, then took a bottle of mineral water from the cooler and walked over to the truck to give it to her.

As the broom moved, the air filled with swirling dust. Lian Wan looked up at her, sweat dripping from her eyelid and making her squint.

Seeing Zhou Yanqian's gesture, she neither accepted nor refused the water. "I'll drink it in a bit. You should move away, it's dirty here."

Zhou Yanqian didn't say anything, just took a few steps back and continued to watch her.

The cargo door was ajar. Lian Wan swept inside, the sounds muffled. After a short while, she jumped down, her shoulder brushing against Zhou Yanqian's as she passed to get a dustpan.

The other drivers all smoked, and the smell, mixed with their sweat, was enough to make Zhou Yanqian gag whenever they walked past. But even though Lian Wan was now covered in dust, her face streaked with sweat that trickled in dirty rivulets down her neck, Zhou Yanqian still found her clean. With a person like her, even the smell of tobacco would seem to just float on the surface, never sinking in.

When Lian Wan was finally done, Zhou Yanqian handed her a damp towel, her thoughts wandering aimlessly.

Lian Wan's own feelings were just as jumbled. After the physical labor, she had strangely shed her awkwardness and shame in front of Zhou Yanqian. Under the bright sunlight, she finally dared to meet her eyes. "Thank you."

As they paused, the afternoon fell quiet, broken only by the shrill cry of distant cicadas.

This time, it was Zhou Yanqian who broke eye contact first. The tips of her ears turned red, as if scorched by the sun. "You're welcome."

Seeing Lian Wan also avert her gaze and start chugging water, she changed the subject, asking casually, "It's so late. What are you doing for lunch?"

Lian Wan frowned slightly, clutching the now-empty water bottle and tugging at her damp collar. "I'll just eat whatever at home." The oppressive heat bearing down, she also remembered the matter of installing the air conditioner. "I have to go out again this afternoon."

"You work so hard…" Zhou Yanqian hesitated. Though she had clearly decided this beforehand, she sounded cautious as she spoke. "How about I treat you to a meal?"

"Huh?"

"I've made braised ribs, red-braised pork, and steamed fish. I've washed the vegetables, too," Zhou Yanqian said. "Do you like meat?"

Realizing what her words implied, Lian Wan froze, suddenly awkward. The composure on her face vanished, replaced by a foolish expression. "Ah?… It's-it's fine, I guess."

Zhou Yanqian couldn't help but laugh. "Then go wash your hands. We can eat soon."

Lian Wan followed her in a daze, washed her hands in the store's restroom, and then entered a small adjacent room.

The room contained a stove and a dining table. Zhou Yanqian stood with her back to her, head bent as she chopped something.

The pressure cooker next to her was already open, releasing the rich, savory aroma of braised ribs.

A fish was steaming in another pot, the steam from the boiling water rattling the lid.

Lian Wan drew closer and asked carefully, "Need any help?"

Zhou Yanqian tilted her head slightly. Lian Wan had just washed her hands and face, but the sweltering heat still clung to her, making her feel as if her chest was on fire. Yet there wasn't a single drop of sweat on Zhou Yanqian's forehead. Her cheeks were fair and soft, her hair was tied back with a few loose strands framing her face, and her entire aura was completely different from before.

Hearing her, she gave her a warm smile. "No, it's fine. Just sit down and wait a little. It'll be ready soon."

Lian Wan didn't move. She stood to the side, watching her work without blinking.

When the fish was done steaming, she carefully removed it from the pot, sprinkled it with shredded scallions and chili, and poured sizzling hot oil over the top. A sharp sizzle echoed as the aroma instantly filled the room.

She dropped some green vegetables into boiling water, quickly removed them, and drizzled them with a prepared sauce.

The red-braised pork and the braised ribs were dished out into large bowls one by one.

Last was a seaweed and egg drop soup garnished with scallions and dried shrimp. Zhou Yanqian turned and finally noticed Lian Wan, who was still standing there transfixed. She nudged her with an elbow. "Go get the bowls. The rice is in the cooker; help yourself."

After a thought, she called out to her again.

"Taste this and see if it's salty enough. I didn't add any salt." Holding a pair of chopsticks, she picked up a piece of meat from the bowl and held it to Lian Wan's lips.

The glossy, soy-colored piece of meat steamed gently. Lian Wan looked at her, and seeing the earnest, unquestionable look on her face, she hesitantly opened her mouth.

She didn't dare swallow it, just carefully took it between her teeth and chewed.

Zhou Yanqian withdrew her hand as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "How is it?"

"The seasoning is perfect," Lian Wan said with sincerity. "It's delicious."

Zhou Yanqian smiled at her.

The atmosphere in the small kitchen suddenly grew warm. Lian Wan moved to help Zhou Yanqian carry the soup, but her hand touched the hot rim of the bowl and she burned herself. As she turned her head, she saw Zhou Yanqian use that same pair of chopsticks to taste a piece of meat herself.

The reality of the indirect kiss flooded Lian Wan's mind. She froze, her thoughts racing as she stared at the other woman in a daze.

"It turned out really well this time," the woman said with a smile, then asked, "What is it? Why are you staring at me like that?"

Her reddened fingertips curled quietly into her palm.

Lian Wan suppressed her wildly pounding heart and forced herself to answer calmly:

"It's nothing."

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